TERRACE houses in Skipton and South Craven will be the hardest hit by a new waste collection policy.

Wheelie bin collection points for inaccessible roads - around ten per cent of Craven - will have to be set up by Craven District Council following a visit from the Heath and Safety Executive.

It will also mean able residents will have to move their own bins to avoid repetitive strain injury amongst waste collection staff .

Cllr Carl Lis, the council's lead member for waste disposal, told last week's Policy meeting that the council had no choice but to comply with the HSE.

"It is with regret, as it will be looked upon as an erosion of the service," he said.

He pointed out that Craven was the only authority in North Yorkshire not to have adopted a collection point policy, and that it was not to be seen as a way of saving money.

In addition, the short term sickness record of waste collection staff had deteriorated and was the worst of any council department.

Cllr Lis stressed that the current assisted programme, for those unable to move their own bins would remain, and was likely to increase.

There are currently around 500 residents on the assisted scheme, and it likely to increase by up to 65 per cent.

He believed assistance to vulnerable people would be able to continue as the issue with waste collectors was repeated moving of the bins.

Cllr Robert Heseltine (Skipton, Ind) said the traditional Victorian terraces of Skipton and South Craven would be hardest hit.

He suggested if all bins were to be left for collection on one side of the street only, there would be enough room for the wagons to get through.

Cllr Alan Sutcliffe (Gargrave, Cons) pointed out there could be a liability risk to the council if a resident injured themselves while moving council property.

He suggested some unscrupulous residents could put in a bogus claim and that perhaps residents would have to sign an indemnity form releasing the council from any blame.

Cllr Graham Beck (Glusburn, Ind) said the council only had itself to blame and if there were still weekly collections of general waste, the bins would be lighter and less likely to cause problems.

"These bins are so heavy by the time they are collected, its no wonder they are causing problems," he said.

Cllr Simon Myers (Gargrave, Cons) repeated that the council had no choice and had to comply with the HSE. He added that he would like to see a report back to Policy once residents had been consulted with.

Cllr Lis said there were plenty of options to consider and that it was intended residents would put forward their own suggestions.

All residents likely to be affected by the new collection policy will be contacted by the council. The new collection points will be advertised on the council website and should be in operation by July next year.